Ribbon-feed mechanism for computing-machines and the like.



D. W.SHIEK. RIBBON FEED MEGHANISM POR COMPUTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 30, 1903. 963,81 9.

Patented July 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-snm 1.

, M "In D W. SHIEK. RIBBON FEED MEGHANISM EOE GOMPUTING MAGHINES AND TEE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED DBO. 30, 1903. 963,81 9. Patented July 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-snm 2.

or carrying'arms 7 and 7. Mountedpivotessere.,

inerti eas ramena? ovaires.

DANIEL W. SHIEK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VALTER L. MILLIKEN, TRUSTEE.

RIBBON-FEED MEcHANisM ron COMPUTING-'MACHINES AND THE LIKE,

vSpecification of Letters atent.

Patented July 1TB, 1910.

Application iled December 30, 1903. Serial No. 187,125.

To all' whom it may concernr Be it known t'hat I, DANIEL lV. Stima, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State. of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- 'ful improvements in Ribbon-Feed Mechrangement of parts, as herein described, and

pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure I is anelevation of a preferred ribbon-feed mechanism embodying my invention, the ends ofthe actuating-shaft being broken ofi', Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of one of the spools and its actuating means taken on line a--b, Fig. 3 is a central' section of one of the spools, its shaft, and fric-v tion devices; Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the spools, showing its openings; Figs 5, 6

and 7 illustrate modified shapes of ratchet teeth and their pawls; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of my automatic ribbon-reversing device, attached to the feeding and reversing mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a dctached view of one of the reversing levers; Fig. l0 is a top view of the spring 39.

l is a plate, above which are mounted the libboirspools' and 3. As shown sectionally in Fig..3, each spool is pinned, or otherwise secured, on a shaft or spindle 4. Fixed upon the respective shafts 4 and 4 are two ratchet-wheels 5 and 5, which are preferably ofthe type known as crown ratchetwheels, having their teeth upon their lower sides, as shown in the drawings.

6 is a longitudinally-movable rock-shaft, on which are secured two pawl-supporting ally on said respective arms are two pawls 8 and 8, which are adapted to engage' the respective ratchet-wheels 5, but not both at the same time. The pawls are so positioned and spaced that when either pawl is in engage` 4ment with its ratchet-wheel, the other pawl 'is disengaged from the other ratchet-wheel.

Formed in each ratchet-wheel within the Fig. 3, and the point of the pawl 8 may play idly within said recess when the pawl is disliengaged from the ratchet teeth by shifting of the rock-shaft 6. The pawl-carrying arms l' are oscillated by any suitable means, preferably by a rotatable shaft 10 having a cutaway portion 14, and by a spring 12 or its equivalent. The shaft is cut away as shown at 14, at a point adjacent to one of the pawl-arins '7, and said pawl-arm is held against the shaft by the spring l2 which is preferably coiled around the roclcshaft G, and has one end connected to one of the pawl-arins while at the other end it bears against the other shaft 10. Thus, the pawlarms 7 are positively moved to turn the ratchet-wheels 5, by rotation of shaft 10, while the reverse or backward strokes of the pawls are actuated by the spring 12; it being understood, as above explained, that only one spool is positively rotated, the other being-rotated through the intermediacy of the ribbon. Cams might be mounted on shaft l0 in lieu of the cut-away portions 14, but such. devices would be obviously inferior equivalents, owing to their greater cost. Knobs, as at 15, may be mounted on the ends of the pawl-carrying shaft 6, land said shaft may have two notches as 1G cut therein, said notches Abeing engaged by a wire spring, as 17, for holding said shaft in either of its two positions. The pawl-actuating shaft 10.1nay be rotated either continuously `or intermib tently, by any suitable means actuated by the operation of the printing mechanism (not shown).

18 indicates an inked ribbon, which is wound on the spools in the usual manner, extending fromA one to the other. The amount of ribbon 0n either spool at any timemay be observed through openings 19 cut in t-he upper heads of the spools. The direct-ion in which the ribbon will be fed will `depend upon the longitudinal position of rock-shaft G, as will be readily understood. The spools should be provided with frictional devices of some kind, in order to hold the ribbon taut between them. .A 'pre-- ferred `frictional device lfor thatp'urposeis illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the hub of the ratchet-wheel is shown provided with two open, slots 2O into which extend the ends of a pm 21 which is driven through a transverse not necessarily, altered.

hole in the shaft 4. Iy this device,vertical l its respective lever 35. s shown, shaft 6 movement of the ratehetwheel is permitted,

indep'endentlyof said shaft. x A sleeve 22, on A the shaft is interposed between the .ratchet- `wheel and the,(sta tionary) plate l. `The' ratchet-wheel is held up against said sleeve by a' screw 23, and by a bushing 24,.made of rubber or similar elastic or compressible material. A washer 25, Amay be interposed between said bushing and the head of the screw 23. It is evident that the frietional resistance to the rotation of the`spoolwill depend upon the pressure of 'the screw-head or washer upon the bushing 24. As the inner face or end of the bushing is worn away, the

pressure thereon may be maintained by adjusting the screw 23. The sleeve 22 is firmly secured to the plate 1, either by means of a flange 26 or in'any preferred manner.

Reference is now had to Figs. 5, ,6 and 7 which illustrate modified forms of teeth adapted for the ratchet wheels 5. The purpose of thesemodiiications is to form theratchet teeth and their pawls in such a way as to facilitate the engagement and .disengagement of the latter with the former when lthe shaft 6 is shifted to reverse the ribbon. In Fig. 5 the teeth, 2S, Vare inclined downwai'dly, and the end or point of the pawl, 29

is inclinedl at a similar angle to that of the teeth. In Fig. 6 the backs of the teeth, 30, are level, the same as in Fig. l but their edges are inclined, as shown, and the pawl,

29, is cut off at a similar angle to that of the teeth. Fig. 7 represents an arrangement'in which'the pawl 31, when disengaged f-roin the ratchet teeth, 32, is outside the periphery l of the wheel instead of within it. The teeth shape of the pawls shown in these views are supposed to be similar to those of the pawl 8 shown in F ig. 2.

By the addition of a very few parts t0 the mechanism shown in Fig. l, a `simple and effective means may be provided for. automatically'revei'sing the travel of the ribbon 1S Whenever it becomes almost entirely unwound from ,either of the spools. Such an attachment is shown in its most preferred form in Fig. 8, to which, reference is had. The construction of the ratchet wheels, their pawls, and the shaft actuating the latter, is The rock-shaft 6 is provided at suitable points with two pins or equivalent projections 34 and 34. Arranged between this shaft and the ribbon 18 are duplicate levers 35 and 35. Preferably, the upper end of each lever 35 is forked, to

loosely straddle the ribbon, and the lower is at the left, and the right-hand pin 34 is engaged by its lever.- The levers are fulvci'uined at any suitable points between their has been moving in the direction of thev arrow and has become unwound from the right-hand`v spool. The continued motion v of the ribbon will'forcethe button ,against the lever 35, turning the latter, whichy by engaging its pin' 34 will move shaft 6 tothe right, sufficiently far to disengage the acting pawl 8 from its ratchet wheel, but not Vfar y' enough to engage the otherpawl with the other-i'atchet'wheel. Any suitable auxiliary means may belemployed for completing the throw of the shaft to bring the op osite pawl into position for actuating the r1 bon.

The device shown in the drawing consists of a lug 36 and a coperating'spring 39.

.The lug may be secured to the shaft in any suitable manner; as shown, it is riveted or pinned in a slot cut in the shaft. This lu is formed with two inclined faces 38 which ineet at substantially a point, as shown. The

end of the spring 39 which engages this lug is shaped substantially as shpwn, preferably' with two inclined sides,wh1ch are adapted -to slide over the respective inclined faces. of

the lug as the latter is .shifted-by. movement of the shaft longitudinally. The downward 'pressure exerted by the spring upon the lug has the effect of completing the longitudinal throw of the shaft after the shaft has beenthrown part way by one o f the levers 35. The length of the lug is so adjusted that its highest point willbe can' ried past the middle 0f the spring, before either pawl is releasedfrom its ratchet. The spring then effects areversal of the ribbon, inthe manner aforesaid.

lI have thus described 'the preferred forms of my improvements, but it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of iny invention; hence I do not wish to limit myselfto the exact form and construction shown.v

By the word button in the claims, I mean to include any' equivalent of the button, 37.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent' is:

l; In ribbon-feed mechanism, a ribbonholder, and a frictiona-l device comprising a fixed sleeve through which passes4 the shaft' of the holder, a ratchet-wheel on the shaft, and means for maintaining anadjustable degree of pressure between the ysleeve and the ratChet-wheel and also between t-he sleeve and the holder; substantially as described.

2. In ribbon-feed mechanism, the com bination, with a ribbon spool, of a rotary driven member connected to the spool, and an oscillatory driving member adapted to engage the rotary member, one edge of each of the engagingfaces of said members being inclined to facilitate the ready engagement of the parts;V substantially as described.

3. Inribbon feed mechanism the combination with a ribbon holder, of a rotary ratchet member connected to the holder, and an oscillating driving pawl adapted to engage the ratchet member, one edge of each of the engaging faces of said parts being inclined to facilitate the ready engagement of the parts, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the kind described, ribbon spools provided with oppositely arranged ratchet wheels, a ribbon mounted on said. spools and provided with a stop near each end thereof, a longitudinally movable bar having mounted thereon two oscillating pawl arms each provided with a coperating pawl for one of said ratchet wheels, the tWo being so spaced that only one pawl is engaged at a time, and means for oscillating said arms, in combination with tripping levers each having one end extended and adapted to contact directly with and shift said shaft and the other end extended in the path of the ribbon and cooperating with said stop, whereby as the ribbon is exhausted upon a spool it automatically and positively shifts the longitudinally movable bar and reverses the rotation of the spools.

5. In a device of the kind described, ribbon feeding mechanism comprising a ratchet Wheel provided with a smooth face adjacent its toothed face, a pawl adapted to engage said toothed face to control the movements of said wheel, and said smooth face to release the same, and means for positioning said pawl to engage either of said faces desired. i

(. In a device of the kind described, ribprevent the simultaneous engagement of oth pawls with the toothed faces of the wheels. I

7. In a device of the kind described, ribbon feeding mechanism comprising a pair of ratchet wheels each provided with a smooth face adjacent its toothed face, a pawl for each ratchet'wheel adapted to 'engage the toothed face to control the movements of its wheel and the smooth face to release the same and means connectingr said pawls for positioning the same to engage either of the faces upon the respective ratchet wheels, said pawl connecting means being adapted to prevent' the simultaneous engagement of both pawls with the toothed faces of the wheels, and means for operating said pawls to rotate said wheels.

S. In a device of the kind described, ribbon carrier mechanism comprising a ribbon spool, a collar, and a ratchet wheel, the three heilig resiliently held together' in suitable relative positions upon a shaft and means for regulating the resiliency of such engagement. y

9. In a device of the kind described, ribbon feeding mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel provided with a smooth face adjacent its toothed face, a single pawl adapted to engage either of said faces desired and resilient means for maintaining said pawl 1n position to engage either of said faces, and to prevent its simultaneous engagement with bot-h faces.

10. In a device of the kind described, rib

bon carrier mechanism comprising a collar rigidly held in position and a shaft rotatablysupported by said collar, in combina# tion with a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel mounted upon said shaft said spool and ratchet wheel being spaced from one another by the collar and adapted to frictionally en-l gage said collar between them.

11. Ina device of the kind described, ribbon carrier mechanism comprising a collar rigidly held in position, and a shaft rotatably supported by said collar, in combination with a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheelmounted Vuppn said shaft said spool and ratchet Wheel being spaced from one another by said collar and adapted to frictionally engage said collar between them, and means for preventing rotation between said spool and ratchet Wheel.

1Q. In a device of the kind described, rib! bon carrier mechanism comprising a collar rigidly held in position, and a shaft rotatably supported by said collar, in combination with a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel mounted up n said shaft said spool and ratchet wheel being spaced from one another by saidd collar and adapted to resiliently engage said collar between them.

13. In a device of the kind described, ribbon carrier mechanism comprising a collar rigidly heldin position, and a shaft rotatably supported by saidv collar, in combination With a ribbon spool and a ratchet Wheel mounted upon said shaft .and adapted to frictionally engage said collar between them, and means for forcing said spool and ratchet Wheel toward each other.

y 14. In a device of the kind described, ribbon Carrier'mechanism comprising a collar" ,rigidly heldin position, and a shaft rota- .rio'idly held in position, and a shaft rotatztbly supported by said collar, in combinationwith a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel mounted upon said shaft and adapted to fricti.onallyengage said collar between them, i

means for preventing rotation between said spool and ratchet Wheel,- and means for resiliently'forcing said spool and wheell toward each other. f

A 16.l In a device of the kind described, rib? bon carrier mechanism comprising a collar `ri 'dly held in position, and a shaft rotata ly supported by said collar, in combinamounted upon said shaft and adapted to frictionally engage said collar between them, means for preventing rotation between said s ool and ratchet wheel, mechanism for reslliently forcing said spool and wheel toward each other, and means for adjusting the operation of said resilient mechanism.

17. In a device of the kind described, ribbon carrier mechanism comprising a collar rigidly held in position, and 'a shaft rotat ly supported by said collar, in combination with a ribbon spool and a ratchet wheel mounted upon said shaft and adapted to frictionally engage said collar between them, means for preventing rotation between said spool and ratchet wheel, and means for adjusting the frictional engagement between vsaid spool and ratchet Wheel and said collar.

'tion with a ribbon spool and a' ratchet wheel In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 1 signed my name in the presence of two (2) subscribing Witnesses. v

DANIEL W. SHIEK. Witnesses:

CHARLES I. COBB, BURTON U. HILLS. 

